Making A Decision To Repent


Tuesday, July 18 * St. Camillus de Lellis


€ Then he began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
Matthew 11:20

A decision joins us to the eternal. It brings what is eternal into time. A decision raises us with a shock from the slumber of monotony. A decision breaks the magic spell of custom. A decision breaks the long row of weary thoughts. A decision pronounces its blessing upon even the weakest beginning, as long as it is a real beginning. Decision is the awakening to the eternal ... A road well begun is the battle half won. The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way. There is nothing more harmful for your soul than to hold back and not get moving.

The archenemy of decision is cowardice. Cowardice is constantly at work trying to break off the good agreement of decision with eternity ... Cowardice hides behind the thought it likes best-the crutch of time. Cowardice and time always find a reason for not hurrying, for saying, "Not today, but tomorrow," whereas God in heaven and the eternal say: "Do it today. Now is the day of salvation." The eternal refrain of decision is: "Today, today."

Soren Kierkegaard
in Provocations


Isaiah 7:1-9 * Psalm 48:2-8
Matthew 11:20-24